So book your ticket to enjoy the distinct possibility to be blown up 20 kilometers into the air :) - Kilauea volcano is one of the five shield-volcanoes that comprise the islands of Hawaii and it's anything but docile.

You can still enjoy the spectacular views in relative peace, however, because the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitors all current volcanic activity, which keeps them busy around the clock (a quick look at their website eruption archives proves that)

The semi-solidified lava structures may look as curious lava-lamp oddities, but conceal behind their fanciful shapes a highly dangerous nature. The lava tongues and "tentacles" may look solid but often they remain incredibly hot and unstable for long time.

Like alien bread dough they creep forward, quickly cooling off and adding perplexing shapes here and there. The imaginary sequel to "The Blob" movie could certainly use such visuals:

In some areas you can really sympathize with poor hobbits climbing toward the Mount Doom. Such landscape does indeed exist on a fairy-tale tropical island... unstable reality, poised on the brink of disintegration:

Kilauea volcanic activity is also are known for creating vog, or volcanic smog, reaching over to other Hawaiian islands. In other words, what you get is a full smorgasbord of geological thrills and horrors.

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Stromboli's mixture of water & fire

Another volcano that spews flows of lava into the sea is Stromboli volcano in the Tyrrhenian Sea north of Sicily - second largest European volcano after Etna.

Capable of producing powerful tsunami-like waves, this fire cauldron stays in permanent activity for thousands of years... In 2002 and in February this year the activity was significant enough to spawn very large waves that damaged structures on neighboring Aeolian Islands. According to BBC, two new craters opened on the volcano’s summit, followed by the strong eruption.

(original unknown)

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We will continue to cover the terrible beauty and activity of volcanoes, so let us know if you have some interesting pictures and facts. For example, this spectacular photo made the "Astronomy Picture of the Day":

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4 Comments:

Hawai'ian people worship Pele, (pronounced [ˈpɛlɛ] in Hawaiian, /ˈpeɪleɪ/ PAY-lay in English) is the goddess of fire, lightning, dance, volcanoes and violence. She is a daughter of Haumea and Kane Milohai, and her home is believed to be the fire pit, Halema'uma'u crater, at the summit caldera of Kīlauea, one of the Earth's most and continuously active volcanoes; but her domain encompasses all volcanic activity on the Big Island of Hawai'i.

There are several traditional legends associated with Pele in Hawaiian mythology.

One thing never to expect of the Hawai'ian people, Move your BBQ if you have those fake volcanic looking rocks in them. They have a taboo against moving the volcanic rock period. (I know, was stationed at Hickam and could NOT get my grill moved with the fake lava rocks in it.) :D